Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH19198’

ABSTRACT

A new Petunia plant particularly distinguished by having a brilliant magenta with a well-defined white star along mid-veins of corolla lobes and a semi-trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH19198’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia,botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEPH19198’. ‘KLEPH19198’ is a selection from across-pollination of the proprietary female Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0044’(unpatented) and the commercial male Petunia line ‘Peppy Purple’(unpatented).

In July of 2014, the proprietary female Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0044’ andthe proprietary male Petunia line ‘Peppy Purple’ were cross pollinatedin Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plantswere grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2015 inLatina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH19198’. In May 2015, ‘KLEPH19198’ wasfirst vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissueculture in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH19198’ was found to reproduce true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue cultureand terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. Brilliant magenta with a well-defined white star along        mid-veins of corolla lobes; and    -   2. A semi-trailing plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph,which shows a close-up of the flower of the plant. The plant is about 11weeks old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in March 2020. The colors shownare as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPH19198’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inLatina, Italy. Data was collected on fourteen-week-old plants grownindoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in March 2020.Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.        -   Common name.—Petunia.        -   Variety.—‘KLEPH19198’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—Proprietary Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0044’.        -   Male.—Proprietary Petunia line ‘Peppy Purple’.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Medium vigor plant with semi-trailing habit.        -   Height (from top of soil).—About 15.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—About 30.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Time to produce a finished flowering plant: 12            to 14 weeks in winter under short day conditions, about 8            weeks in spring. Time to initiate and develop roots: 2 to 3            weeks.        -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,            white roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Average number (basal).—About 5.        -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the            tip).—Up to 15.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—Up to 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—About 0.3 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 144B.        -   Anthocyanin.—Present at leaf margin RHS N92A.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate along the stem, opposite under the            inflorescence.        -   Length.—Up to 6.0 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 3.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower            surface: RHS 137C.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface:            RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A. Lower surface: RHS            144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: Up to 1.0 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 cm.            Color: RHS 144B. Texture: Pubescent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Irregularly oblong.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 145B along the body of the bud and            RHS 79B toward the tip.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously flowering            during spring and summertime.        -   Inflorescence type.—Sympodial, with monochasial growth.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 12            days.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 fused petals. Diameter            (flower face): Up to 6.0 cm. Depth (total length of flower):            Up to 5.5 cm. Throat/Funnel: Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter            (at opening): About 1.0 cm. Texture: Inner surface: Smooth.            Outer surface: Pubescent. Color: Inner surface: RHS NN155B.            Outer surface: RHS 157B. Petals: Color, mature flower (fully            opened): Upper surface: RHS most similar N78A and RHS 69D            along mid-veins of corolla lobes. Lower surface: RHS 72B and            RHS N155B along mid-veins of corolla lobes. Apex: Truncate.            Base: Fused. Shape: Salverform. Margin: Entire. Strength of            waviness: Absent or very weak. Degree of lobation: Medium.        -   Calyx arrangement.—Composed of 5 sepals fused at the base.        -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS            137C and RHS N92A toward the base. Length: Up to 2.5 cm.            Width: Up to 0.6 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface:            Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.        -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: Up to 4.5 cm. Diameter:            About 0.15 cm. Texture: Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle with oblong head.            Filament: Length: Up to 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.05 cm.            Color: RHS N155D. Anther: Shape: Oblong. Color: RHS 10C.            Length: about 0.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.15 cm. Pollen:            Color: RHS 158A. Amount: Sparse.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: About 2.2 cm.            Stigma color: RHS 157C. Style color: RHS 145A.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH19198’ is a distinct variety of Petunia. ‘KLEPH19198’ isdistinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male ParentTrait ‘KLEPH19198’ ‘PH-2014-0044’ ‘Peppy Purple’ Flower Brilliantmagenta with a Magenta purple Purple and color well defined white starwith unregular white bicolor along mid-veins of yellow zones corollalobes Plant habit Semi trailing Semi-trailing Upright

‘KLEPH19198’ is most similar to the commercial Petunia plant named‘Peppy Purple’ (unpatented). Differences between the two varieties aredescribed in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial lineCharacteristic ‘KLEPH19198’ ‘Peppy Purple’ Plant habit Semi trailingUpright Color pattern Very stable white star along Color distributionvariable mid-vein of corolla lobes and playing in differentenvironmental conditions

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named‘KLEPH19198’ as illustrated and described herein.